Staying healthy in smoky conditions

Signs of smoke irritation include itchy eyes, sore throat, runny nose and coughing. Generally, once away from smoke these symptoms will clear up but people with asthma, heart disease and other conditions may be more sensitive to smoky conditions.

How to protect yourself in smoky conditions

• Anyone with a lung or heart condition should keep at least seven days’ worth of medication on hand. Those with asthma should follow their personal asthma treatment plan.
• Anyone experiencing breathing problems or chest pain should seek medical advice immediately.
• Minimise your physical activity outdoors. People with pre-existing lung or heart conditions, in particular, should rest as much as possible and keep away from the smoke
• When indoors, keep the windows and doors closed. Seal gaps (such as under doors with wet towels or tape) in your home which may be letting smoke into the house from the outside. If you have an air conditioner, turn it on and switch it to ‘recycle’ or ‘recirculate’.
• If your home gets too hot for comfort or is letting in a lot of smoky air, try to visit an airconditioned community library or shopping centre (if it is safe to do so).
• When indoors, avoid other sources of air pollution including smoke from cigarettes and wood stoves.

For more information, see Queensland Health’s factsheet and QFES’s warnings page.